Beavers Headed for Texas Quad Meet

THE MEET
The No. 16 Oregon State gymnastics travel to Denton, Texas for a quad meet to close the 2016 regular season. The Beavers will face No. 3 LSU, New Hampshire and host Texas Woman's University at 4 p.m. PT at Kitty Magee Arena. The meet will stream live on flogymnastics.com (subscription required).

BEAVER BITES
The Beavers are ranked tied at No. 16 this week. Rankings recently switched to being determined by Regional Qualifyting Score ... all four of OSU's lineups are ranked among the top 25 in the nation. The bars lineup is the highest ranked for the Beavers at No. 12 (49.185 average). The floor exercise is ranked No. 14 (49.165) with the beam team ranked 16th (49.110) and the vault lineup is No. 22 (48.960) ... the Beavers have wrapped up the home portion of the season ... OSU's roster includes a pair of All-Americans, three-time honoree Madeline Gardiner, who has finished third on the beam in Event Finals each of the last two years, and Erika Aufiero, who will miss the season due to a knee injury suffered the week of the season opener ... the Beavers return 10 contributors in 2016 including 15 out of 24 routines from NCAA Championships in 2015. But it is more complicated than that. Senior Erika Aufiero, who was slated to perform in the all-around, and sophomore Dani Dessaints, who anchored the vault and bars lineups in the season-opener will both miss the season due to injury.

VS. TEXAS WOMAN'S
The Beavers have met the Pioneers once before at a tri-meet at University of Denver in 2012. The Beavers finished second in that meet topping TWU 196.325-193.650.

VS. LSU
OSU's most familiar opponent in this week's meet will be the Tigers who hold an 11-7-1 lead in the all-time series over the Beavers. Oregon State has lost the last two meetings against LSU with the most recent coming at the NCAA Championships in 2015 by a score of 196.550-195.875. The Beavers' last win came in the 2011 home opening dual, 195.400-193.350.

VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE
Oregon State holds a 3-0 advantage all-time against UNH. The Beavers last faced the Wildcats at 2014 NCAA Regionals in University Park, Pa. when OSU finished third ahead of fifth-place New Hampshire by a score of 196.525-195.025.

OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about the Oregon State gymnastics team in 2016:

The Beavers have counted only one fall in 2016 ... the counter came with pair of falls on the balance beam at Utah ... OSU counted falls in just two meets in 2015.
OSU has 'hit' 203 out of 216 (94.0% ) routines in 2016 ... the Beavers 'hit' 95% (297 out of 314) of their routines over the course of 13 meets in 2015.
It took until the seventh meet of the season, but the Beavers 'hit' all 24 routines for the first time in 2016 against California ... it has now been three straight meets without a missed routine.
Oregon State has relied heavily on junior Madeline Gardiner to compete in the all-around for much of the last three seasons. Thus far in her career, Gardiner has performed in the all-around 24 times in her career including the last 14 meets. Gardiner had won three all-around titles entering the season and has already exceeded that mark in 2016 having won the all-around in the Beavers' first four meets ... in total she has won six all-around titles this season and 14 total individual titles in 2016.
With the rankings moving to Regional Qualifying Scores (RQS) and the Beavers having two meets added to the rankings last week, Madeline Gardiner is No. 17 in the all-around (39.320) and tied for 15th on the balance beam (9.885). Kaytianna McMillan is tied for No. 12 on the uneven bars (9.900).
The 2016 roster includes four freshmen: Mary Jacobsen, Mariana Colussi-Pelaez, McKenna Singley and Elizabeth Yu. Colussi-Pelaez is the younger sister of Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, who transferred to Oregon State last year.
Nine of OSU's 2016 opponents were ranked in the preseason top 36: No. 4 Utah, No. 5 LSU, No. 6 UCLA, No. 8 Stanford, No. 10 Auburn, No. 14 California, No. 30 Washington, No. 33 New Hampshire and No. 36 Arizona State.

LAST TIME IN COMPETITION
Friday evening, the Beavers completed a two-meets-in-a-week kind of week with a second strong performance. OSU 'hit' all 24 routines for the third straight meet and scored 196.800, just missing a season-high, on Senior Night. Risa Perez and Jamie Radermacher performed the final home routines of their careers. Perez set a career-high with a 9.925 on the balance beam en route to a convincing win over Seattle Pacific (193.300) and Ball State (192.425) to cap the home season. Madeline Gardiner tallied a career-best 39.500 in the all-around and tied her career-best on the balance beam (9.925) and uneven bars (9.875). The Colussi-Pelaez sisters went back-to-back establishing career-highs on the beam as well with Silvia scoring 9.90 and Mariana checking in at 9.825. Kaytianna McMillan added a season-high on the floor exercise (9.90) to go with a 9.925 on the bars, winning both events.

TANYA CHAPLIN QUICK HITTERS

Chaplin holds the Oregon State record for wins during the regular season as well as overall. She set the record at the 2014 home opener with a 196.425-194.850 victory over Iowa State. Now in her 19th season Chaplin has 360 career wins including 291 victories during the regular season.
Chaplin has led the Beavers to conference titles in two of the last five years, winning the 2011 Pac-10 title and the 2013 Pac-12 Championships.
She has directed OSU to the NCAA Championships 11 times in her 18 seasons at the helm.

MADELINE GARDINER QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Madeline Gardiner, a junior from Cambridge, Ontario:

Has 'hit' 120 out of 123 routines in her career ... 35-36 in 2016.
Has won 28 event titles in her two-plus seasons; 14 in 2016 (6 AA, 2 V, 5 BB & 1 FX); 10 in 2015 (3 AA, 2 V, 3 BB & 2 FX); and four in 2014 (3 BB & 1 FX).
Set career-high with 9.925 on the beam against Arizona State (1/30) and matched it against Cal (2/20) and against SPU (3/4).
Earned All-America First Team honors on the balance beam and in the all-around in 2014 ... finished tied for third in the Individual Event Finals in 2014 - the best beam finish for an OSU gymnast since Joy Selig was first in 1990 ... qualified to NCAA Championships as an individual all-arounder in 2014.
Became a three-time All-American in 2015 earning first team honors on beam ... again finished third at Event Finals.
Two-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection - 2015 All-Around first team & 2014 Balance Beam second team.
Earned Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 17-22) after scoring a career-best 39.475 in the all-around to go with a career-high tying 9.925 on the balance beam in a win over Cal.
Received Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week for the week of March 9-15, 2015 after winning the all-around tying her career-high with a 39.400. She added an event title on the beam.
Madeline was named the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week for the week of Feb. 10-16, 2014 after she posted career-bests of 9.95 on floor and 9.875 on beam to win the first event titles of her career ... named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the week of Mar. 3-9, 2014 after she won the beam title (9.925) and scored 39.400 in her first all-around performance.
2015 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection.
Canadian National Team's alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Is a study facilitator and tutor for exercise and sport science student-athletes at OSU's Beth Ray Center for Academic Support.
Majoring in exercise and sport science with an option in pre-therapy and allied health.

KAYTIANNA MCMILLAN QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Kaytianna McMillan, a junior from Coburg, Oregon:

Has 'hit' 69 of 73 routines in her career ... 20-20 in 2016.
Has won 13 event titles in her career; 7 in 2016 (5 UB, 1 BB & 1 FX); 3 in 2015 (2 UB, 1 FX); and 3 in 2014 (2 BB, 1 UB).
One of just nine gymnasts in Oregon State history to record a score of 9.90 or better on each apparatus in her career.
Scored career-bests of 9.950 on the bars and beam against California (2/20) ... matched her bars output with another 9.950 against Stanford (2/29).
Suffered a season-ending knee injury on the final routine (vault) at the 2015 NCAA Norman Regional; her recovery continues and began the season competing only on the balance beam ... returned to the bars lineup in Week 2 at Lindenwood, winning the event ... she returned to the floor lineup at UCLA scoring a team-high 9.875.
2015 Pac-12 All-Conference second team on the floor exercise.
Tied for balance beam title (9.85) at NCAA University Park Regional in 2014 qualifying to NCAA Championships on the the event.
Volunteers regularly at Stone Soup Corvallis.
Kaytianna trained at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics - the same gym as other OSU greats Chari Knight, Jami Lanz and Chelsea Tang among others including OSU head coach Tanya Chaplin.
Four-time Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier and won the Level 10 national titles on beam and all-around in 2013.
Majoring in human development and family science with an option in human services.

RISA PEREZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Risa Perez, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada:

Has 'hit' 95 out of 103 routines in her career including 43-44 in her OSU career ... 20-20 in 2016.
Has won six event titles in her OSU career; two on beam and one on floor in 2016 and three event titles in 2015 for the Beavers; two on floor and one on beam.
Forced into the vault lineup against ASU for the first time in her career (9.675).
Competed in beam and floor lineups for the Beavers 12 out of 13 meets last season.
Has cut and choreographed her floor routines since she was a Level 8 gymnast.
Also helped choreograph several of her current teammates' floor routines this season.
Transferred to Oregon State from Arizona State in the fall of 2014.
Majoring in liberal studies.

JAMIE RADERMACHER QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Jamie Radermacher, a senior from Tualatin, Oregon:

Has 'hit' 21-24 career routines and all 12 routines of her OSU career ... 9-9 in 2016.
Won the first event title of her career tying for first on the floor (9.875) against Auburn (1/10) ... followed up with another career-high 9.90 on the floor and another event title at Lindenwood (1/15).
Cracked the floor lineup late in the 2015 season competing three times.
Aggravated a previous injury at regionals and was unable to compete at nationals.
Majoring in human development and family sciences.

MEGAN JIMENEZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Megan Jimenez, a junior from Temecula, California:

Has 'hit' 42 of 45 routines in her career ... 19-22 in 2016.
Began the season in three lineups (vault, beam & floor), but has been unable to perform on the floor for the last three weeks due to injury.
Has set career-highs on beam (9.825) and floor (9.825) in 2016.
Performed in the vault lineup in all 13 meets in 2015 and nine times in 2014.
Forced into making her floor lineup debut at 2015 NCAA Championships due to injury.
Majoring in digital communication arts.

TAYLOR RICCI QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Taylor Ricci, a junior from North Vancouver, British Columbia:

Has 'hit' 26 of 27 routines in her career ... 18-19 in 2016.
Bettered her career-high on floor for the second straight meet with a 9.875 against Stanford (2/29).
Has performed in the vault and floor lineups in every meet in 2016.
Was inserted into the balance beam lineup at Utah (1/23) for the first time in her career - 9.500.
Performed in the vault lineup seven times in 2015.
Like Jimenez, she was forced into making her floor lineup debut at 2015 NCAA Championships due to injury scoring 9.800.
2015 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection.
Has applied for a program at OSU that serves as a med school pipeline. If accepted she will shadow a physician during spring term.
Elected as OSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Public Relations officer.
Majoring in exercise and sport science with an option in pre-therapy and allied health.

SILVIA COLUSSI-PELAEZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, a junior from Oakville, Ontario:

Has 'hit' 34 of her 36 routines in her college career and 31 of 33 at OSU ... 13-15 in 2016.
Set career-high 9.90 on balance beam against SPU (3/4).
Set a season-best 9.825 on the bars against Californai (2/20).
Transferred to Oregon State from Florida following spring term of 2014.
Competed as a member of Spain's national team.
Successfully performed a sideways aerial on balance beam – a first in World or Olympic competition – the skill is now named the Colussi-Pelaez. She has not used the skill in competition at the collegiate level.
Younger sister, Mariana, is a freshman for the Beavers in 2016.
Elected as OSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Community Service officer.
Majoring in chemical engineering.

MARIANA COLUSSI-PELAEZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Mariana Colussi-Pelaez, a freshman from Oakville, Ontario:

Has 'hit' all 16 of her routines to start her career.
Won her first event title against Arizona State (1/30) with a career-high 9.85 on the uneven bars ... tied that mark against California (2/20).
Set career-best on balance beam with a 9.825 against SPU (3/4).
Majoring in biology.

SHIREEN KHAMEDOOST QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Shireen Khamedoost, a sophomore from Bountiful, Utah:

Has 'hit' 24 of 25 routines in her career ... 17-18 in 2016.
Has become a mainstay in the bars and vault lineups in 2016.
Set career-high 9.775 on vault at Washington (2/8) and matched against California (2/20).
Began the 2015 near the top of the bars lineup for the first seven meets.
Majoring in exercise and sport science.

McKENNA SINGLEY QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about McKenna Singley, a freshman from Bountiful, Utah:

Has 'hit' 12 out of 15 routines in 2016.
Set a career-high on floor (9.90) against Stanford (2/29) breaking a tie in the final routine of the meet to secure the win for the Beavers.
One of only two OSU gymnasts to have performed on all four events in 2016 (Madeline Gardiner), although she has NOT performed in the all-around yet.
Missed the Arizona State & Washington meets due to injury ... returned to vault lineup at UCLA.
Scored career-best 9.825 on vault at Lindenwood (1/15).
Registered career-high on bars (9.875) at Utah (1/23).
Majoring in sociology with an emphasis in crime and justice.

MARY JACOBSEN QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Mary Jacobsen, a freshman from Puyallup, Washington:

Has 'hit' 22 out of 24 routines in 2016.
Has been a versatile cog in the lineup in 2016 competing on three events in six out of eight meets.
Captured the first individual title of her career winning on bars with a then-personal mark 9.825 at Washington (2/8).
Shattered her previous best on the bars against California (2/20) with a 9.950 to tie for the event title.
Set career-high on vault with a 9.825 at UCLA (2/13) and matched it against California (2/20).
Set career-mark on floor exercise (9.825) against Stanford (2/29).
Is a freshman in athletics and a junior in academics ... majoring in computer science.

ERIKA AUFIERO QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Erika Aufiero, a senior from Sparks, Nevada:

Suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice (1/7) leading up to the season opener.
Earned first team All-America honors on uneven bars in 2015.
Owns 15 career event titles; 13 on bars and two on vault.
Chosen as one of the team's captains in 2015 and '16
Earned All-Pac-12 honors on uneven bars in 2013 and on vault in 2015.
Has 'hit' 57 of 62 routines in his career.
Erika's sister, Breyanna, competed at Utah State.
Double-majoring in finance and accountancy.

DANI DESSAINTS QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Dani Dessaints, a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada:

Suffered a shoulder injury in practice prior to the Lindenwood meet (1/13) and will miss the rest of the season.
Has 'hit' all nine of her routines in her college career ... 2-2 in 2016.
Anchored the Beavers' vault and bars units in the season-opener posting career-bests on both events.
Battled injuries as a freshman competing only seven routines.
Majoring in sociology with an emphasis in crime and justice.

WHICH WAY DO WE GO?
The Beavers, like every other team in the country, are seeking to qualify to the NCAA Championships and the Super Six. But to reach that goal teams must get through NCAA Regionals. In 2016, regionals will be held at Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Utah. The top two finishers at each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.

CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS
The Pac-12 Conference has seven out of eight of its teams ranked in the Top 36, which is the number of teams that qualify to NCAA Regionals. Utah is ranked No. 5, UCLA is at No. 8, Stanford is 13th, California is 14th, Oregon State is tied at 16th, Arizona is 20th and Washington is at No. 24.

THREE FOR 2017
In November, two gymnasts signed the National Letters of Intent to join the Oregon State gymnastics program for the 2016-17 academic year. Isis Lowery (Melbourne, Australia) and Brianna McCant (Frisco, Texas) are scheduled to enroll in Oregon State this coming summer. In addition, 2015 signee Sabrina Gill (Oakville, Ontario) is slated to join the program for the 2017 season as well. Gill opted to defer her enrollment while she trains for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for Team Canada.

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